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Pearce voted against fiscal cliff bill and Boehner

Goes against Republican Party

Jim Kalvelage

Posted:
01/03/2013 03:14:52 PM MST

The only member of New Mexico's congressional delegation to vote against a measure that softened the so called "fiscal cliff" said the package advanced by the Senate will mean tax increases for Americans and small businesses.

"I cannot support this or any plan that doesn't provide a solution," said Rep. Steve Pearce, R-2nd District. "Washington doesn't have a tax problem, it has a spending problem. The president has said we shouldn't raise taxes in a recession because he understands that no matter who we tax, it will slow our economy without fixing our debt problem. Still, this is exactly what he proposes we do."

Pearce, who represents the southern half of New Mexico, said the Republican-controlled House previously passed measures to avert the fiscal cliff.

"We have given the president and the Senate the opportunity to take steps toward solving our debt crisis while making sure that the damaging impact of sequestration and tax increases are avoided. Instead of acting in the same spirit, the Senate and the president want to raise taxes and continue the federal spending spree."

But Pearce was not only at odds with the president and Democrat-controlled Senate. He was among nine Republicans who voted against re-electing John Boehner as speaker of the house Thursday.

"Congressman Pearce voted for a new voice to represent the House in negotiations going forward," Pearce spokesperson Eric Layer said. "He believes Speaker Boehner is taking us in the wrong direction.

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Congressman Pearce was unable to support the tax plan brought before the House on Tuesday, and feels that he is no longer able to support the negotiator."

Pearce was one of three GOP representatives to vote for Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia as speaker. Cantor, who did not seek the position, was re-elected as majority leader, the No. 2 position in the House. Boehner was re-elected as speaker with six more votes than needed.

Tuesday's fiscal cliff remedy, overwhelmingly approved by the Senate early on New Year's Day, easily passed the House on a 257 to 167 vote late in the day.

For most taxpayers, income tax rates would remain unchanged. Massive spending cuts were delayed. Other issues, especially on the spending side of the federal ledger, were not addressed in the fiscal cliff legislation. The unresolved issues are expected to create more political showdowns in the coming months.

"Everyone knows the Euro Zone is in crisis, but America's debt-to GDP (gross domestic product, the value of all good produced in the United States) is as bad as countries like Ireland and Portugal," Pearce said. "More taxes and more spending haven't solved the problem for Europe and they won't help us here. The president is deceiving Americans by promising new taxes can help while in reality they won't scratch the surface of our mounting debt."

Pearce added that the White House and the Senate must get serious on the debt problem and "stop kicking the can down the road."

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said indeed the can was kicked down a "very short" road.

"I remain disillusioned with the short-term nature of the deal that came through the Senate, but ultimately felt we had to pass it," Udall said. "We managed to make progress on middle-class tax cuts, wind energy tax incentives and unemployment insurance, but squandered an opportunity to implement a long-term vision to deal with the debt and deficit."

Pearce said government must also stop ignoring the problems facing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He added Americans need honesty from Washington.

"They deserve a real solution that spends tax dollars efficiently and effectively, instead of wasting them and then demanding more. They deserve a government that will make the tough decisions, live within its means, and control spending."